Thursday, 7 February

Registration & Welcome Coffee

Welcome Remarks

Matthew Weihs is Managing Director of Bench Events. Within this role
he focuses on the development of new business opportunities and sales
for Bench Events and partners, whilst also supporting the direction of
the business and providing commercial support for new product launches.

With over 15 years' experience in B2B conferencing with Guardian News
and Media, IQPC and now Bench Events his main responsibilities have
been to business develop and manage sales across the portfolio of
events. In 2012 he successfully founded and launched the African Hotel
Investment Forum (AHIF) and in 2013 he launched the Morocco Tourism
Investment Forum (MTIF) - an invitation only event for the industry. For
2015 he was instrumental in launching the Mediterranean Resort &
Hotel Real Estate Forum (MR&H) the newest of the products in the
portfolio.

Named as the Director of the African Chapter of Destination Develop, a
full service marketing platform for our investment customers, he
continues to strive to provide the best services that will deliver the
high standards our customers expect.matthew.weihs@benchevents.comTel: +44 7858 511012

09:30 - 10:00

Macroeconomic and Geopolitical Overview

10:00 - 10:30

Hotel and Tourism Potential in Francophone Africa

What are the visions of the region's governments for hospitality investment in North, West and Central Africa?

10:30 - 11:00

Hotel Performance in Francophone Africa

Robin Rossmann is Managing Director of STR, leading its operations
across EMEA, APAC and LATAM. Robin is focused on continuing to improve
the way STR provides the hotel industry with robust and insightful
performance benchmarking that enables stakeholders to make better
decisions.

Amir is Managing Director Middle East & North Africa where he is responsible for driving growth throughout this region for Hilton Worldwide’s suite of industry-leading brands.

Amir has previously held senior roles at HVS (Dubai & London offices), and has also spent several years working in managerial roles with UAE sovereign based entities where he focused on hotel and other forms of real estate development, and corporate finance.

Prior to joining Hilton Worldwide, Amir was Vice President Development for Movenpick Hotels & Resort where he led the development of the brand in the Middle East & Africa to achieve all-time record growth for the brand in the region.

Amir is a keen sportsman with a passion for combat and motor sports. He’s also known to pick up a tennis racquet and snowboard from time to time.

At home Amir is heavily outnumbered, where he is the only male among three precious girls.

HOT SEAT

Mossadeck Bally will reveal how he has pioneered the independent African hotel brand and created a flagship hotel chain in West Africa, providing employment to over 900 people and having a major impact on the local economies. Starting with one hotel in Bamako, find out how he grew his portfolio of hotels across the region, competing with big international hotel companies and striving to give a conquering vision of the “African Business”.

Mr. Mossadeck Bally is the Founder, Chairman and CEO of the Azalaï Hotels Group, a leading private hotel chain group in the West African Region.

Born August 27, 1961 in Niger to Malian parents with a long tradition in commerce and trading, Mr. Bally was raised in Niger and Mali, where he received his early education. He studied abroad, notably in France and in the United States where he improved his business knowledge by holding a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of San Francisco, in California.

Mr. Bally commenced his foray into the African hospitality industry with an initial focus on his home country, Mali. In 1994 he established the special purpose vehicle, “Société Malienne de Promotion Hôtelière (SMPH)” to effect the acquisition of the first hotel of the future Azalaï Hotels Group through the State privatization of the mythical “Grand Hôtel de Bamako”. In 2000, he built on the strong reputation on the service quality and management of its premier hotel to build the Salam Hotel, and enter into a management agreement for Hotel Nord Sud, both based in Bamako.

In 2005, Mr. Bally consolidated the activities of the various properties under a common brand (“Azalaï Hotels”), and formally launched the Group’s expansion strategy in the WAEMU region. Under Mr. Bally’s leadership, the Azalaï Hotels Group expanded to Burkina Faso in 2004 through the acquisition of Hotel Independence; Guinea Bissau in 2007 through the acquisition of Hotel 24 de Setembro, to Benin through the acquisition of Hotel de la Plage and more recently to Abidjan, Nouakchott, Dakar, Niamey and Conakry. From its humble origin 20 years ago, Azalaï Hotels Group is today the first African private hotel chain group in the West African Region, providing direct employment to about 700 persons and over 3,500 indirectly.

Mr. Bally, through the Azalaï Hotels Group strives to provide a conquering vision for African Business.

13:00 - 14:00

Networking

Networking Lunch

14:00 - 17:30

Round Table Sessions

Join us for round table ‘brainstorming sessions’ with your fellow attendees. These sessions allow you to meet new contacts and share ideas; a great ice-breaker and an excellent way to gain industry knowledge. Network, demonstrate your expertise to potential partners and gain insight from industry leaders in an intimate setting. Each table will be hosted by two or more industry experts who will lead the discussion.

14:00 - 15:00

Round Tables I

Regional Focus

A look at the regional nuances of Francophone Africa – What is the performance and pipeline of these very different markets? Where are the investment opportunities and what are the challenges to be aware of? What you need to know about hotel investment, development and operation in these regions.

Wesam Okasha joined Hilton in July 2018 as the Senior Director of Development for West Africa. Previously, he held the position of Group Business Director at Mangalis Hotel Group responsible for the growth of their Noom, Seen and Yaas brands in Africa. A German citizen with extensive experience across multiple markets in multiple roles ranging from hotel operations, sales and business development. Wesam’s experience across EMEA, Asia and the Americas includes roles with several international companies: Mövenpick, Maritim Hotels, TUI, Thomas Cook, Aldiana Clubs Lufthansa/LSG and the RIU Hotels.

He is fluent in French, German, English, Spanish and Arabic, and conversant in Italian and Hebrew. Wesam holds an MBA in International Business from the Chase University in Athens, Georgia.

International executive with more than 30 years diversified experience in both Hospitality and Quick service Restaurants. Since 2014 Alain is developing Louvre Hotel’s brand in both French speaking Africa and East Africa under management and franchise agreements. In the last three years Alain opened 12 hotels and signed more than 20 deals.

Previously Alain occupied high executive positions in the quick food industry, he held the position of Managing Director for YUM for 7 years, was the Managing Director of McDonalds Greece for 5 years and VP Operation for McDonalds France (12 years).

Graduated from ESG Paris Business School with a Master’s degree in Marketing and an MBA in Hospitality Management, Mehdi has acquired marketing and financial analysis skills, over his experiences in France and abroad (United States, Indonesia, Morocco, etc.).

Mehdi joined Horwath HTL in 2016 and is specialized in market research and feasibility studies in Western, Central and North Africa. He currently serves as a senior manager in Horwath HTL. He is in charge of the production team and business development in northern and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Mehdi has specialized in market and feasibility studies for hotel development in the region, from the territorial analysis to the definition of the global concept and its operating conditions. His other business skills include due diligence services, valuations, appraisals and hospitality strategy.

Graduated from Paris Institute of Political Studies with a Master Degree in Urban and Regional Policies and Strategies, Clémence started her career in tourism in the MICE sector, working for a fairs and exhibitions organisor as a marketing coordinator. Having joined Horwath HTL in 2016, Clémence has mainly works on tourism & leisure market and feasibility studies. In 2018, she joined the regional office in Abidjan to realise hotel market and feasibility studies in Central and Western Africa as well. She is now in charge of leisure & tourism business development in the subregion.

Room B:

Developing the Business Segment The development of the Business Hotel offering: the challenges and opportunities for business hotels in the region’s capitals and secondary cities. What conditions are needed for successful business projects and what are the different segments that can be considered?

Erwan has been part of the Africa Business Development team for three years with a focus on accelerating and executing the growth strategy in the French and Portuguese speaking territories of Africa and the Indian Ocean.

Erwan has a Bachelor Degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from Hotel Management School of Paris and a MBA in International Hospitality Management, AACSB-EQUIS accredited majoring in Corporate Finance and Business Development from Cornell University and ESSEC Group – IMHI.

Erwan’s hospitality experience includes the launch and management of his own consulting firm in 2011 based out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Paris, France known as Mise en Place with impressive assignments in Brazil, Italy and USA. Before that Erwan worked for Hilton Worldwide (2007 to 2010) as a Director Brand Performance Support in London, UK focusing on the new Hilton Garden Inn brand. From 2004 to 2007 Erwan worked for the Accor Group as General Manager of the Red Roof San Francisco, USA and then at the Sofitel Bora Bora & Private Island in French Polynesia, Asia. From 2002 to 2004 Erwan was exposed to analyst, hotel valuation and investment while working for the Mazars Group in Madrid, Spain. Erwan also held the position of Assistant General Manager for the Jurysdoyle Hotel Group in Dublin, Ireland from 2001 to 2002.

Erwan native language is French, however he is also fluent in English and Portuguese with working knowledge in Spanish.

16:00 - 16:30

Networking

Coffee Break

16:30 - 17:30

Round Tables III

Room A:

Developing Hotel ProjectsHear from developers, operators, project managers and owners on their experiences developing hotel projects in the region. What are the main hurdles to consider? How to find the right partners and define everyone’s role in ensuring successful and smooth project completion. Topics for discussion include:Getting hotel construction costs rightBest practices for project deliveryPutting together the right teamManagement contracts & franchise agreementsHuman capital developmentFacilities, FF&EHotel design

Réda started his career in Paris at Xerox spending two years working as Key Account Manager.

His career with Accor started in 2001 and Reda has had the responsibility of defining, deploying and managing the sales strategy of Accor Morocco from luxury to economic segments during 8 years as Country Sales Director.

Since 2008 he has held the position of Development Director for Morocco after being promoted in 2012 as Development Director for Morocco, Tunisia & Libya.

From 2009 to 2012, Reda has had also the responsibility as Board member to launch the joint-venture SMHE which has developed the first low-cost hotels chain in Morocco with Ibis Budget Hotels.

As VP Development from 2014, Réda is responsible for the development of AccorHotels brands from luxury to economic segments in Northern & Western Africa.

From 2018, Reda has also been appointed as Board member of the joint-venture SIEHA which develop as investor Ibis & Novotel in Algeria (7 hotels under operation).

Réda Faceh holds a Master in “Service Industry Management” from EM Lyon Business School in Lyon (France).

Feras Hasbini is Development Director for Hilton in the MENA region with a specific focus on North African markets. He is based in Casablanca, Morocco with Hilton now having six Moroccan hotels either trading or in the pipeline. Prior to his current position Hasbini worked in the Hilton development team in Dubai having joined the company from JLL where he worked in Hotel Advisory and Asset Management. A Lebanese native, Hasbini studied at Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne.

Room B:

Investing in HospitalityAddressing matters investors need to know about but are too afraid to ask. What does performance look like for hospitality assets in the region and what are the returns for investors? A discussion for investors on why and how to invest in hospitality.

Topics for discussion include:Understanding the legal and tax framework in African countriesHow to address issues of repatriation of funds and taxationWhat regional or country-specific regulations investors need to be aware ofThe various types of hospitality assets to consider for investmentWhat type of investor returns can be expected

Mohamed is the founder and CEO of Amandla Capital Real Estate (Amandla Capital), a hospitality real estate investment platform, where he leads business development and investment structuring.

His career as an entrepreneur, investment professional and executive in emerging markets spans 30 years. Before Amandla Capital, Mohamed focused on direct investment and financial advisory services after having promoted access to finance for SMEs and processed agribusiness debt and equity investments in Africa and Eastern Europe at the International Finance Corporation (IFC – World Bank). He started his career in manufacturing and services in West Africa.

Mohamed sits on the board of directors of several companies in West and North Africa (fintech, education and telecom system integration) and was an advisor to BMCE Bank of Africa’s inaugural African Entrepreneurship Award.

He holds a MSc in Finance (ESSEC) and is a graduate of Sciences-Po Paris.